What Is a Block Grant?

The term “block grant” refers to grant programs that provide federal assistance for broadly defined functions, such as community development or social services. Block grants allow the grant recipient more discretion than other grants in determining how to use the funds to meet a broader program goal.

Federal block grants are typically for U.S. state or territory governments and allow these government entities to determine specifically how to allocate and spend the funding. Of course, there are rules and guidelines for implementation that vary with each grant program as defined in the authorizing statute.

Block grants are a type of mandatory grant, and in our What Is a Mandatory Grant? article we discuss authorizing statutes in a little more detail.

Individuals searching for social services should check out their state and local government resources. These services may be provided using federal block grant funding. For other government assistance for individuals, go to Benefits.gov or search in Grants.gov after narrowing the search results to eligibility for individuals.

Nonprofits or other service providers may be eligible to receive block grant funds via pass-through funding from states or territories, so you should contact your state’s grants office (often located within the governor’s office).